Sarah and Josh planned their Fairmont Château Montebello wedding in Montebello, QC when they were living in Saskatchewan. Planning a wedding in another province is no easy feat – I know, because Rob and I did it! Everything needs to be done during trips home (like Christmas). You also have to put a lot of faith in your venue and vendors, because if things aren’t quite right you’re not there to set them right! It pays to be flexible and easy-going, which Sarah and Josh certainly are!

Montebello is such a gorgeous location for a wedding, set deep into the rolling hills and on the Ottawa River. I drove into Quebec during a fine mist and light rain. I hope for the weather to clear so that Sarah and Josh could have the outdoor gazebo ceremony they wanted. While the weather didn’t clear enough to comfortably ask their guests to sit outside, Sarah and Josh took the change in plans in stride. Their whole day was smooth sailing, and I loved spending it with them and their families.

One of my favourite aspects was getting to know Josh! Usually I meet with couples before booking. I think it’s important to get to know each other so that there’s not a stranger spending the wedding day with you! But Josh, being in Saskatchewan, wasn’t able to meet. And they couldn’t fit an engagement session into their busy schedule. So the first time I saw Josh in person was when I walked into the hotel room when he and his groomsmen were getting ready. He immediately welcomed me and put me at ease. He got gifts for his groomsmen and personally thanked them for standing with him on his wedding day. It was obvious how much the people in his life mean to him, and judging by the emotion on his face as Sarah walked down the aisle, she’s his world.

Their reception was at the Fairmont Château Montebello Golf Club. It’s an impressive space overlooking the golf course, with a huge stone fireplace and massively high ceilings. The food was amazing, and so many of the guests were complimenting it. Emotions ran high during the speeches, which is just the way I like it. Sarah’s maid of honour, Amanda, was so happy for her best friend that she had to work really hard to make it through her speech without crying. I loved it :)

Sarah and Josh, I hope you’re having a great time on your mini-honeymoon! Thank you for inviting me to be part of your day.